The Life of RNA and Protein Synthesis

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental components of RNA, the processes of transcription and translation, and the biological principles of the Central Dogma.

Ribose

The five-carbon sugar found in RNA, distinguishing it from the deoxyribose sugar found in DNA.

Uracil

The nitrogenous base found in RNA that pairs with adenine, replacing the thymine found in DNA.

messenger RNA (mRNA)

A type of RNA that serves as a messenger from DNA to the rest of the cell to provide instructions for protein synthesis.

ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

A type of RNA that helps make ribosomes, the cellular structures where proteins are manufactured.

transfer RNA (tRNA)

The type of RNA that transfers specific amino acids to ribosomes according to the coded message in mRNA.

Central Dogma

The framework for how genetic information flows from DNA to RNA through transcription and from RNA to protein through translation.

Gene

A small region of DNA containing the specific instructions required to make a protein.

Transcription

The process where RNA polymerase separates DNA strands and uses one strand as a template to create a complementary mRNA strand.

RNA polymerase

The enzyme responsible for binding to DNA, unzipping the double helix, and assembling nucleotides into a strand of mRNA.

Promoter

A specific stretch of DNA located before a gene that signals to RNA polymerase where to start reading and which template strand to use.

Template Strand

The single strand of DNA used as a blueprint by RNA polymerase; it is always read in the $3' \rightarrow 5'$ direction.

Translation

The process taking place on ribosomes in the cytoplasm where the message in mRNA is turned into a sequence of amino acids to form a protein.

Codon

A sequence of three RNA bases that constitutes the "words" of the genetic code, representing a specific amino acid, start signal, or stop signal.

Anticodon

A triplet of bases on a tRNA molecule that is complementary to and binds with a specific mRNA codon through hydrogen bonds.

Initiation

The first stage of translation where mRNA, the initiator tRNA, and the ribosomal subunits come together at the start codon.

Elongation

The stage of protein synthesis where the ribosome moves along mRNA and amino acids are joined by peptide bonds to form a growing chain.

Termination

The final stage of translation where the ribosome recognizes a stop (terminator) codon and releases the completed polypeptide.

Peptide Bond

The chemical bond formed between two amino acids during the elongation phase of translation.

Polysomes

A cluster of multiple ribosomes working on the same mRNA strand simultaneously to synthesize proteins more efficiently.

Bound Ribosomes

Ribosomes attached to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) that produce proteins intended for export out of the cell or for use in lysosomes.

Free Ribosomes

Ribosomes suspended in the cytoplasm that produce proteins used primarily within the cell.